Pastor Charles Woody of Cornerstone Celebration Center International
of Whittier raises his arms in song and prayer during the Whittier
observance of the National Day of Prayer Thursday, May 6, 2010, held
at the front of Whittier City Hall with the theme of "A Time to Pray
and a Time for Change."

Virginia O’Neill of Whittier said she came to the event because she believes in the power of prayer.

“It’s a blessing that we’re able to do this in our city,” O’Neill said.

Jason Guerrero, senior pastor at Regency Christian International, said the event is important.

“Never before has there been a need for prayer on behalf of the nation,” Guerrero said.

“We pray this prayer would invoke a response from you,” he prayed. “Lord, we await a great awakening. You have not given up on America. Neither have we.”

The event was held less than a month after Wisconsin-based U.S. District Court Judge Barbara Crabb ruled the National Day of Prayer violates the establishment clause of the Constitution’s First Amendment.

Despite that ruling, several observances took place around the nation’s capital Thursday, including at the Pentagon, the Cannon House Office Building and on the steps of the U.S. Capitol.

In her decision, Crabb said until the defendants in the case exhaust their rights to appeal the decision, observance ceremonies could still go ahead.

Velasco said the ruling had stirred a up a passion among area ministers.

“We’re not trying to hurt anybody,” he said. “We’re just trying to give a blessing to our city fathers.”

Mike Sprague started at the Whittier Daily News in April 1984. Since then, Sprague has covered every city in the Whittier Daily News circulation area, as well as political and water issues. Sprague received a bachelor's degree in communications and a master's degree in political science, both from Cal State Fullerton.

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